By Peter Omopo
United States President Donald Trump has announced the death of Héctor Rusthenford Guerrero Flores, popularly known as “Niño Guerrero,” the leader of the notorious Venezuelan criminal organisation, Tren de Aragua, following a military operation reportedly carried out by U.S. forces in coordination with Venezuelan authorities.
Trump disclosed the development in a post on Truth Social, stating that the operation was authorised by his administration and executed by the United States Southern Command. According to the U.S. President, the mission resulted in the successful elimination of Guerrero, whom he described as the leader of one of the world’s most violent criminal organisations.
The U.S. leader said the operation was conducted in close collaboration with Venezuelan authorities, noting that both countries had worked together in carrying out the mission. Venezuela’s communications ministry also confirmed that Guerrero was killed during a joint operation targeting organised criminal groups.
Guerrero was widely regarded as the founder and principal leader of Tren de Aragua, a criminal network that originated within Venezuela’s prison system before expanding across Latin America, the United States and parts of Europe. The organisation has been linked to drug trafficking, human trafficking, extortion, kidnapping, money laundering, contract killings and other forms of organised crime.
The United States had previously designated Tren de Aragua as a foreign terrorist organisation and placed a reward of up to $5 million for information leading to Guerrero’s arrest. He had also been charged in the United States with racketeering conspiracy, terrorism-related offences and other crimes connected to the group’s operations.
The operation comes amid an intensified crackdown by the Trump administration on transnational criminal organisations. Following the announcement, Trump vowed that members of the gang would continue to face sustained pressure from U.S. authorities, declaring that Tren de Aragua operatives would no longer find safe haven in Venezuela or elsewhere.
Security analysts have described Guerrero’s death as a significant blow to one of the most feared criminal organisations operating across the Americas, although questions remain about the potential impact of the operation on the group’s wider network and leadership structure.
